Checklist for Choosing an Office Space in Glasgow: What to Consider

Checklist for Choosing an Office Space in Glasgow: What to Consider

21 February 2019

In 2017, we shared our checklist for choosing the right office space. This has since proven to be one of our most popular blog posts, so we’ve decided to reinvent it, this time with a Glasgow-specific focus. Of course, all of the items on the original checklist will apply no matter where you’re setting up your office; but when you’re based in Glasgow, there are some points you’ll need to look at from a local perspective.

Read on for our checklist of things to consider when you’re looking for a Glasgow office space – it might just help you find your perfect match.

Which Area of Glasgow Suits Your Business Best?

Obviously, there will be a lot of factors to balance here – with budget being one of the most fundamental. But it’s also key to consider the different target customer or client bases that are best represented by different parts of the city. If your business if likely to appeal to students or more affluent families and pensioners, the well-heeled West End, close to Glasgow University, is a good place to start looking. But office space in this part of the city does come at a premium; a more economical option for a student-focused business might be a space near Strathclyde University, in the more affordable East End. In the Southside, meanwhile, rental prices are on the rise as more and more young professionals and families relocate from the West End. But this does mean a growing market for certain kinds of businesses.

Glasgow office space rental rates are generally lower than in many other major UK cities. But office space in central Glasgow is, of course, in high demand. If you have a business that particularly depends on high street visibility, you may decide the higher profile you’ll have here is worth the extra costs associated with the location.

Would a Traditional or Modern Building Work Best For You?

Glasgow’s architectural landscape is hugely varied, with shiny new buildings existing side-by-side with ornate listed buildings that date back to the 19th century or earlier. A space within a beautiful, old-fashioned building with huge windows can make a big impact on your customers, but Glasgow’s modern buildings have their merits too. They often tend to be better insulated and far more energy-efficient than their more visually impactful Victorian neighbours – which can help keep overheads down. Newer buildings are also more likely to have been built specifically with office space in mind, meaning they might be more fit for purpose than an older building that has simply been adapted.

Will Your Customers Arrive by Car, on Foot or by Public Transport?

Like most historic cities, Glasgow is largely made up of streets that were built for horses, carriages and pedestrians rather than for cars. If you live in Glasgow, you’ll already know how challenging this can make parking in some areas. For this reason, finding an office space with attached parking, a nearby multi-storey car park or abundant on-street parking can be a big win. But fortunately, the city’s comprehensive public transport system means that people who need to access your business won’t always be arriving by car.

If your office space in in the city centre, it will be within easy walking distance of many bus stops, the Buchanan Street and St. Enoch subway stations, and the Glasgow Central, Queen Street and Argyle Street railway stations. If you’re looking outside of the centre, the West End or selected parts of the Southside, your office space won’t be covered by the subway, but bus stops and railways stations are abundant all over the city.

Choosing a location on or near the high street of a residential hub means most of your business will likely come from the local area, and transport will matter less. Pollokshaws Road in the Southside, Dumbarton Road in the West End and Duke Street in the East End are good examples.

Do You Need a Furnished or Unfurnished Office Space? Serviced or Unserviced?

These questions apply wherever you’re looking for office space, but obviously it’s worth looking at the specific range of office spaces in Glasgow before you make decisions!

There are a wealth of different choices out there when it comes to what’s included in your office space package. You may want an unfurnished space, but need it to come equipped with a kitchen or a staffed reception – well, that’s certainly achievable! You may want to start completely from scratch, with an agreement that allows you to make significant changes to your space. Or you might prefer to move into a completely kitted-out space so you can get straight down to running your business.

If you have specific office space needs you’d like to discuss, please feel free to send us an email so we can help out.